WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 747 · 119th Congress

Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025

Passed HouseInternational Affairs
IntroducedJan 28, 2025
Passed HouseSep 2, 2025
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed House. Latest step, Sep 3, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The House passed it 407–4. From Iowa: Zachary Nunn cosponsors it. All 4 of Iowa's representatives voted yes in the House. It would change 5 sections of existing law and would add 1 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 747 would change 5 sections of existing law, and would create 1 new provision of its own. Read from the bill text as sent to the Senate (Sep 3, 2025).

21 U.S.C. 2302 Definitions

21 U.S.C. 2311 Identification of foreign opioid traffickers

50 U.S.C. 1702 Presidential authorities

50 U.S.C. 1703 Consultation and reports

50 U.S.C. 1704 Authority to issue regulations

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 5 Exception relating to importation of goods
What the words would change: every change, in place (10)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 21 U.S.C. 2302(5)changedby H.R. 747 Sec. 3(a)

    (5) Foreign opioid trafficker. The term "foreign opioid trafficker" means any foreign person that the President determines plays a significant role in opioid trafficking.

    The bill says: by striking "The term "foreign opioid trafficker" means any foreign person" and inserting the following:

  2. 21 U.S.C. 2302(5)changedby H.R. 747 Sec. 3(a)

    (5) Foreign opioid trafficker. The term "foreign opioid trafficker" means any foreign person that the President determines plays a significant role in opioid trafficking.; and

    The bill says: by striking the period at the end and inserting "; and"; and

  3. 21 U.S.C. 2302(5)added (B)by H.R. 747 Sec. 3(a)

    (B) includes—(i) any entity of the People’s Republic of China that the President determines—(I) produces, manufactures, distributes, sells, or knowingly finances or transports any goods described in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (8)(A); and(II) fails to take credible steps, including through implementation of appropriate know-your-customer procedures or through cooperation with United States counternarcotics efforts, to detect or prevent opioid trafficking; and(ii) any senior official of the Government of the People’s Republic of China or other Chinese political official that—(I) has significant regulatory or law enforcement responsibilities with respect to the activities of an entity described in clause (i); and(II) aids and abets, including through intentional inaction, opioid trafficking.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

  4. 21 U.S.C. 2311(a)(1)(A)addedby H.R. 747 Sec. 3(b)

    The bill says: in subsection (a)(1)(A), by adding at the end before the semicolon the following: ", including whether the heads of the National Narcotics Control Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Medical Products Administration of the Government of the People’s Republic of China are foreign opioid traffickers"; and

  5. 21 U.S.C. 2311(c)changedby H.R. 747 Sec. 3(b)

    (c) Submission of reports. Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, and annually thereafter until the date that is 5 years10 years after December 20, 2019, the President shall submit the reports required by subsections (a) and (b) to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership.

    The bill says: in subsection (c), by striking "5 years" and inserting "10 years".

  6. 50 U.S.C. 1702added (d)by H.R. 747 Sec. 4(a)

    (d) Periodic evaluation.—(1) In general.— If the authority granted to the President under this section is exercised with respect to a covered national emergency, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees, not less frequently than annually, a periodic evaluation in writing that—(A) assesses the effectiveness of the exercise of such authority in resolving the covered national emergency;(B) considers the views of public- and private-sector stakeholders; and(C) discusses any potential changes to the exercise of the authority for the purpose of more effectively resolving the covered national emergency.(2) Definitions.— In this subsection—(A) the term "appropriate congressional committees" means—(i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives; and(ii) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and(B) the term "covered national emergency" means a national emergency that—(i) the President has declared, within the preceding 5-year period, with respect to any national emergency regarding international drug trafficking; and(ii) has not terminated.

    The bill says: Section 203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702) is amended by adding at the end the following:

  7. 50 U.S.C. 1703changedby H.R. 747 Sec. 4(b)

    (a) Consultation with Congress. The President, in every possible instance, shall consult with the Congressthe appropriate congressional committees before exercising any of the authorities granted by this chapter and shall consult regularly with the Congressthe appropriate congressional committees so long as such authorities are exercised. (b) Report to Congress upon exercise of Presidential authorities. Whenever the President exercises any of the authorities granted by this chapter, he shall immediately transmit to the Congressthe appropriate congressional committees a report specifying— (1) the circumstances which necessitate such exercise of authority; (2) why the President believes those circumstances constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States; (3) the authorities to be exercised and the actions to be taken in the exercise of those authorities to deal with those circumstances; (4) why the President believes such actions are necessary to deal with those circumstances; and (5) any foreign countries with respect to which such actions are to be taken and why such actions are to be taken with respect to those countries. (c) Periodic follow-up reports. At least once during each succeeding six-month period after transmitting a report pursuant to subsection (b) with respect to an exercise of authorities under this chapter, the President shall report to the Congressthe appropriate congressional committees with respect to the actions taken, since the last such report, in the exercise of such authorities, and with respect to any changes which have occurred concerning any information previously furnished pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (5)…

    The bill says: by striking "the Congress" each place it appears and inserting "the appropriate congressional committees"; and

  8. 50 U.S.C. 1703added (e)by H.R. 747 Sec. 4(b)

    (e) Appropriate congressional committees defined.— In this section, the term "appropriate congressional committees" has the meaning given that term in section 203(d)(2).

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

  9. 50 U.S.C. 1704changedby H.R. 747 Sec. 4(b)

    The President(a) The President may issue such regulations, including regulations prescribing definitions, as may be necessary for the exercise of the authorities granted by this chapter.

    The bill says: by striking "The President" and inserting "(a) The President"; and

  10. 50 U.S.C. 1704added (b)by H.R. 747 Sec. 4(b)

    (b) In issuing regulations under subsection (a) pursuant to a covered national emergency (as defined in section 203), the President shall—(1) consider the costs and benefits of available statutory and regulatory alternatives;(2) evaluate the costs and benefits for the purpose of expeditiously resolving the applicable national emergency;(3) establish criteria for the eventual termination of the applicable national emergency; and(4) include in the basis and purpose incorporated in the regulations—(A) an explanation of how the regulations will resolve the applicable national emergency; and(B) a discussion of the costs and benefits.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025

This bill subjects certain Chinese entities and government officials to potential sanctions related to opioid trafficking and requires the President to conduct certain preliminary analyses before regulating economic transactions in the event of a national emergency related to international drug trafficking.

Specifically, for the purposes of the Fentanyl Sanctions Act, the bill changes the definition of foreign opioid trafficker to specify that the term includes (1) Chinese entities involved in the production or sale of synthetic opioids or related pharmaceutical ingredients that fail to take steps to detect or prevent opioid trafficking; and (2) certain senior Chinese government officials that aid and abet opioid trafficking, including through intentional inaction. Under current law, the President must impose certain sanctions on individuals and entities identified as foreign opioid traffickers.

Further, the bill extends through 2029 an existing requirement that the President report to Congress annually on identified foreign opioid traffickers and any sanctions imposed on them. (This requirement expired in December 2024.)

The bill also requires the President to take additional steps in issuing regulations under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) pursuant to a declared national emergency related to international drug trafficking. (IEEPA authorizes the President to regulate a variety of economic transactions following a declaration of national emergency.) Under the bill, the President must evaluate the costs and benefits of issuing economic regulations for the purpose of resolving the drug trafficking emergency and publish a discussion of such costs and benefits.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 28, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. Sep 3, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.Senate
  2. Sep 2, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
  3. Sep 2, 2025On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 4 (Roll no. 220). (text: CR H3728-3729) Roll call recordHouse floor actions
  4. Sep 2, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 4 (Roll no. 220). Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  5. Sep 2, 2025Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3741-3742)House floor actions
  6. Sep 2, 2025At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.House floor actions
  7. Sep 2, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 747.House floor actions
  8. Sep 2, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3728-3731)House floor actions
  9. Sep 2, 2025Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.House floor actions
  10. Apr 9, 2025Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.House committee actions
  11. Apr 9, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldHouse committee actions
  12. Mar 21, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 119-19, Part I.House floor actions
  13. Mar 21, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 119-19, Part I.Library of Congress
  14. Mar 5, 2025Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 49 - 0.House committee actions
  15. Mar 5, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldHouse committee actions
  16. Jan 28, 2025Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committees on Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary.House floor actions
  17. Jan 28, 2025Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committees on Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary.House floor actions
  18. Jan 28, 2025Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committees on Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary.House floor actions
  19. Jan 28, 2025Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committees on Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary.House floor actions
  20. Jan 28, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
  21. Jan 28, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

Recorded votes

Sourced
  1. Sep 2, 2025 · HousePassed 407–4
    On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · needed two-thirds
    R 209 yes, 0 noD 198 yes, 4 noEach member · Record

Cosponsors

From Iowa

Everyone else (8)

  • Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. R-PA-8
  • Laura Gillen D-NY-4
  • Young Kim R-CA-40
  • Michael Lawler R-NY-17
  • Anna Paulina Luna R-FL-13
  • Tim Moore R-NC-14
  • Gregory F. Murphy R-NC-3
  • Chris Pappas D-NH-1